The situation just got worse for Aam'neair and her crew. Instinct plus leadership kicked in as she grabbed Apolline and ran into the forest in an attempt to meet up with her crew, but in an indirect way. The gecko was already hot on their tails by literally jumping from tree to tree. The sounds of snapping branches and unanimal like roars behind put Aam'neair on edge. After placing Apolline over her shoulders and pulling out her cutlass again, the lioness turned all the way around. She expected to see the gecko, but she only saw the forest.
"I-I'm sorry I got us in this.." Apolline's voice was weak and hazy.
"Don't talk. Save your energy.." Aam'neair kept turning around very slowly, trying to spot the gecko in the trees or on the ground. Her ears moving independently to capture any other sounds.
Apolline looked to her left and could see the gecko rushing up from behind Aam'neair. Before she could warn Aam'neair, they were both tackled down to the ground.
Apolline managed to move from under both the gecko and Aam'neair.
The lioness was struggling against the powerful reptile. To try to intimidate the gecko, Aam'neair opened her mouth, showing her long K-9 teeth and roaring. The gecko quickly answered back by not only opening its mouth much wider than the lioness but roaring louder than her as well. Without a second thought, the gecko attempted to bite Aam'neair's face off. The only thing that was keeping Aam'neair's face from being shredded was her cutlass being wedged in the gecko's mouth with the blunt sides stopping the gecko's mouth from shutting.
Apolline, feeling weaker by the second, could see that the gecko was ever so slowly overpowering the lioness as they fought over the cutlass. She knew if the gecko manages to toss the weapon to the side, it will be over for her best friend. "Got t-to help..." Apolline looked around in desperation and saw a good size rock. She hastily crawls to it and threw it at the gecko's eye. A loud screech emitted from the gecko as its head shifted back.
Aam'neair took this opportunity to smack the cutlass on the gecko's head. The blunt impact being enough to knock the reptile out. After pushing the gecko off she went to Apolline. Her hazel eyes focused on the antelope's blood covered arm. "Got to disinfect that gash.." The lioness pulled out a small bottle of rubbing alcohol.
Apolline whined, knowing full well it's going to hurt but she held her injured arm to Aam'neair nonetheless.
Aam'neair could sense Apolline's fear. "Don't scream or it could alert more of them, okay?"
Apolline nodded while tensing up more.
The alcohol was poured onto a piece of cloth and Aam'neair pressed the cloth on the wound. The instant pain that Apolline felt was enough to make even the most battle harden animals at least grunt loudly but she placed her free hand on her mouth to muffle the screams. The lioness quickly wrapped the bandage around Apolline's forearm.
"I'm s-sorry, Aam'neair. I should've stayed on the ship." Guilt was definite in Apolline's voice.
A strong growl was accompanied in Aam'neair's voice as she said. "Yeah, you should have! You became a liability now!" Even though angry, she slowly picked up Apolline from the ground and hoisted the antelope over her left shoulder.
Apolline looked like a literal deer in headlights from Aam'neair's explosive response. It scared her how her friend growled. It kicked up a slight flight or fight instinct for a brief moment.
Using her anger as aid, Aam'neair was able to not only carry Apolline back to the shore but she was dragging the still knocked out white gecko by its tail with one arm. Her eyes had the hint of a predator by how fast they dart in observation.
Back at the shoreline, the crew was having a tense standoff with the horde of reptiles. Neither side moving an inch further. Val's right ear instinctively shifted to the forest and, in some way or another, the jackal was able to tell her loyal friend and the captain was coming back. Excitement coursed through the jackal, indicated by her shaking and restlessness.
Yellow fur paws pushed through the dense undergrowth and finally, Aam'neair could see moonlight ahead. When getting out to the open, she saw both sides haven't started to fight yet. "Thank god.."
"Captain!" Val said with crazed happiness and relief.
Val's sudden outburst riled up the reptiles by how they started to hiss and move forward ever so slowly.
"Retreat back to the ship, now!" Aam'neair's voice is just as angry as before.
On order, the pirate crew slowly retreated back to the ship. Clad pressed a piece of wood on the ship, making a wooden ramp slide from the ship and onto the shore.
While the crew was getting on the ship, the bulk of all the reptiles were only 20 feet from the ship. They could clearly see the white gecko on Aam'neair's shoulders. Rage overcame one pink salamander as it attempted to charge towards the lioness but was quickly stopped by a dark green, armor-like tail.
Though Aam'neair can't see colors as vivid as other animals, she can see shades of color and seeing sudden dark colors rising from the sea of lighter colors spooked her. Her eyes trailed from the tip of the tail to the base and there she could see the large crocodile. The sight that disturbed her and her crew weren't it's overlapping K-9 like teeth or how it was standing on its two hinds, but its size. The armor scaled beast was standing at 8 feet tall and it knew that showing its size intimidated any who was watching. The sight was so shocking that after reeling the ramp back, the crew walked to the back of the ship just to be out of the reptile's sights for a second.
"What.. W-... What did we just see?" Ludovic asked while in disbelief.
After placing Apolline and the white gecko onto the floor, Aam'neair rushed to the edge of the ship to watch the reptiles. But just to give her shivers down her spine, they were all gone. "I didn't even hear them retreat.."
Clad went up beside Aam'neair. "We're taking Apolline to the medical ward. What shall we do with the... creature?"
Aam'neair didn't answer back, which brought up a somewhat awkward silence on the ship.
"Aam'neair?" Clad asked with some concern now.
"Tie it up and keep it in one of the storage closets and get this boat off the shore." Aam'neair was tense and confused, not natural emotions for such an animal to have. Instincts kept telling her that the creatures she just met are not animals but something else. Images of her fight with the white gecko flashed in her head, especially the part when it was able to open it's mouth so unnaturally wide.
Just by looking at Aam'neair's body language, how her tail hung high but clearly looked stiff, Clad knew that his Captain was disturbed. The ship was full of chatter on what just happened while it sailed from the shore.
"This bite… so wide yet it barely went into the flesh." A pair of gloved hands were holding up Apolline's injured arm. The hands belonged to a male beaver. His eyes shined with intrigue. "This creature has small, sharp teeth. And from how you're reacting right now, no venom. But from what just happened, one can never know now n' days. Heh, right?" The beaver attempted to lighten the mood in the medical ward but Apolline didn't even acknowledge him. She had a 'daydream' gaze look but didn't hide the fact she was deeply upset, indicated by how watery her eyes were.
"Hm.." The beaver went a cabinet to get some anti-venom and other supplies.
"I've.. became a liability to Aam'neair." Apolline let out a deep exhale, trying to compose herself. "It was the first time I've seen her so angry. And how she yelled at me I could hear how scared she was. Scared that I…" Interrupting Apolline mid-sentence, the beaver asked in a light French accent. "Still alive, are you not?"
"Yeah but Doreen (Door-ween)!" Apolline got somewhat too excited by sitting up on the bed too fast, injuring her arm more. "Ugh!"
Doreen soon came back to Apolline's side with a small bottle of anti-venom and stitching equipment. "Don't move a muscle or your injury will get worse." After laying Apolline back down to the bed, the beaver continued. "And besides if the positions were reversed and Aam'neair got attacked, I think you would have reacted in a similar manner. Anger was appropriate in the situation. It was enough to get you and her back alive, right?"
When Apolline's long ears went up, Doreen knew his words were reaching her. "I will tell you that over the years of being the doctor of her crew, Aam'neair's number one pet peeve is anyone disobeying her orders. Doing so meant that you will be kicked out of her crew and be reported to the Royal Constitute in Maroon Vale."
"Is she going to report me?!" Apolline remained still but her breathing was slightly faster.
Doreen shook his head. "Of course not. You're like a younger sister to her. But she will definitely kick you out of her crew."
Apolline, sounding defeated, said. "I wouldn't be surprised. I was so stupid for thinking I could help."
Out of nowhere, Doreen snapped at Apolline. "Do not self-pity yourself! You hear me?!"
Apolline eyes were just as wide as when she got yelled at Aam'neair. "D-Doreen..?"
"Don't look so confused with those beautiful crimson eyes. You should know that not a single one of us talks with self-pity. What is done is done and we move forward. Isn't that something I taught you with Aam'neair?" Doreen asked.
Apolline nodded slightly but then something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was Val snickering at her from the open door.
"Hey, what you laughing at?!" Apolline's face tensed as she felt Val was mocking her.
Val pointed her index fingers at the white-furred antelope. "You, stupid! Haha!" The jackal started to laugh out loud while full on running down the many hallways and didn't take long for her cackling to soon fade.
"Val is so annoying! All she does is a mess with the crew members, especially me.." Apolline looked towards Doreen as if asking for a solution.
A smile appeared on Doreen's lips from sensing Apolline's frustration. "Don't worry about her. For now, we need to fix up your arm." The beaver held up a medical sew and stitching needle which made Apolline place a pillow above her face.
As Doreen began to operate, Aam'neair slowly came into the medical ward. Her footsteps were silent so Apolline didn't notice but Doreen did as he sighs in relief.
"What on Queen's world is this creature.." The rabbit said as she was hiding behind Clad's leg.
The white gecko was tied down to the chair in one of the storage closets. Hands and feet were bound together by ropes. A piece of cloth tied to its mouth as well.
Clad was just as surprised as the rabbit, though he didn't show it as well. "A new animal, Merlin. But clearly not like us in any way."
"No kiddin'. It has no fur for one thing." Ludovic's one healthy eye was looking at every detail of the gecko.
Val turned a corner and saw most of her crew huddling around a storage closet. She easily squeezed through the members to get a front view of the gecko. "Ooooh." Val wasn't sure what to make of the gecko and so her first instinct was to touch it. She placed her hand onto the gecko's knee and instantly went back from it while gripping her hand and growling.
"You're freaked out, Val?" Leo asked in awe as it usually takes a lot of make Val growl. He needed to know what she felt and he to placed his hand onto the gecko's knee. His eyes widen and he slowly moves his hand back. "That's… impossible."
"What's impossible?" Clad asked.
Leo blinked a couple of times before saying. "Its skin is cold as ice but it's alive."
"Everyone get out of the way. I need to get a blood sample of this creature." A warthog in a scholar like attire was making his way through the crowd while holding some equipment in his hands.
"And hello to you as well, Ned." Leo crossed his arms.
After rubbing a cloth soaked in alcohol on the gecko's right arm, Ned held up the somewhat big needle towards the arm.
The whole crew watched with curiosity.
"I bet its blood is green..." Ludovic said to Clad.
Clad only nodded as he saw the tip of the needle pierce the gecko's arm.
The gecko flinched slightly and the crew, except Ned, jolted back.
"Please no movement! I don't want to accidentally strike a bone or something!" Ned looked very nervous as he continued to guide the needle slowly into the arm.
Seconds felt like minutes but finally, Ned was drawing blood into the capsule. The blood is dark red as well.
"That's surprising," Ludovic said.
When the capsule was filled, Ned cautiously removed the needle from the arm.
Merlin closed his eyes as he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Good thing it didn't wake up from that."
Ned nodded as he got a new soaked cloth and placed it onto the small wound. This time, however, the stinging pain of the alcohol on the wound was enough to wake the gecko.
Silence and uprising fear were quick to grip the crew as the members were staring at the gecko's light red eyes.
Clad was quick to shut and lock the door. But as soon as he did that, the crew could hear all kinds of commotion in the storage closet. Growls soon turned into loud non-animal like roars. Ropes being snapped was also heard.
"What did you do, Ned?!" Ludovic pulled out his cutlass.
"Don't blame me! I'm just doing my-" A loud crashing sound was heard on the other side of the door and the crew jolted back even more.
"Do you think it…?" Leo asked with apprehension.
Clad went back to the door, unlocked it, and slowly opened it. His eyes widen and he fully opened the door. The wall adjacent from the door was completely broken through.
"Val, find Aam'neair and tell her the creature was able to break into the armory!" Clad pulled out his cutlass as he and some other crew members passed through the hole in the wall to find the gecko.
The rest of the crew discussed quickly who was going to search which rooms together while Val ran on all fours to find Aam'neair.